Newborn Diapering

I am looking for some been-there-done-that advice. I am pregnant with my third baby, but only my second to be in cloth diapers. I started my daughter in cloth at about 4 months and feel as if I have tried just about everything under the sun when it comes to cloth diapers in the 16 months that she’s been in them. However, I’m anxious to get this new little one into cloth as soon as possible and the newborn cloth diaper thing is brand new to me. Therefore, I’m looking for some advice and input when it comes to your experience with newborn diapering. I’ll fill you in a bit on my preferences:

Although I know so many others who really couldn’t care less, a huge bulky diaper on a little baby drives me insane. Obviously there’s no getting around it with a little 6-8 pounder, but I want to reduce the bulk as much as possible.

I’m not a huge fan of fitteds and prefolds with covers, because of the convenience factor, as well as the aforementioned bulk.

I love my Bum Genius, Fuzzi Bunz, Blueberry, and Smartipants diapers; they are all at the top of the list for me.

With all of that being said I have made some early purchases (okay, VERY early, but hey, I just found out I’m having a little boy after two girls so I’m excited to get some blues and little boy prints). I bought a couple of different varieties and brands and have done a preliminary assessment.

Kissaluv Size 0: The first bit of advice that I received was that the Kissaluv Size 0’s are wonderful for newborns, so I purchased a couple of those and a Thirsties cover. But I thought I just said I’m not a fan of fitteds? Exactly. These diapers are soooo super soft and adorable, but they seem like they will be so bulky with a cover on top of them. I am most skeptical about these, but wondering what moms’ experiences have been with just fitteds and no cover on a newborn? Is this possible or do they leak right through immediately?

Lil Joeys: It was love at first sight with these little beauties. So tiny, so soft, so adorable. I’m tempted to buy twenty of these and call it a day, but I’m not sure how long they will last being that they are so small. I’m also a little wary of AIO’s. I have had bad experiences with sewn-in AIO’s and odor retention.

Tot Bots Tiny Fit Easy Fit: This is another really cute diaper, slightly bigger than the Lil Joeys so I don’t think I’ll be using it immediately. Love, love, love the design of the AIO with the insert that comes out, but stays attached. The inside seems like it will be so soft against the little guy’s bottom.Fuzzi Bunz X-Small: Fuzzi Bunz have been a staple in my cloth diaper stash since the beginning. Contrary to many other opinions, I find FB’s to run a little bulky, particularly in the rear and lower back area, but they are soft, leak-proof and wear well. Again, this one is slightly bigger so I think I’ll have to wait a little while to get it on him.

I would love to hear what other moms of newborns think of the purchases I’ve already made and/or what other diapers they think I might like for the very beginning. I’m also thinking of trying a Blueberry Mini Deluxe and have heard wonderful things about Flip Organic Cotton inserts so wondering if I might be willing to try those with a cover or in a smaller pocket??? What advice can you guys give me? Just as I was ready to shed my Newbie title I’m feeling lost all over again. I will keep an eye on the comments and thank you in advance for any and all suggestions!

41 comments:

I cd'd my oldest son starting at 5 months and then my new baby boy starting at birth. I'm normally a HUGE fan of pocket diapers and use them almost exclusively, but I was surprised to find that with my baby I actually did prefer prefolds and thirsties covers on him! But regular sized prefolds are a no-go. I purchased some newborn sized ones in the 6-ply rather than 8-ply. They were so small and trim and fit GREAT for a couple months, then I used (use) them as doublers or inserts in pockets. I also really liked fuzzi bunz x-small pockets and bluberry mini pockets. Surprisingly to me, I found that even though they are so lauded by nearly everyone, I hated the Kissaluvs size 0 diapers. They fit very weird and after a few washes they were not that soft anymore. If it were me, and for my next newbie, I'd go with a dozen or two newborn sized prefolds and a good stash of fuzzi bunz x-smalls or the other groovy all-in-ones and pockets you've been discovering. (The little Joeys came out RIGHT after my youngest was born…I can't wait to try them on my next guy.) Oh, I also want to try Knickernappies size small on my next baby and also Bottom Bumpers size small…

I just had the opportunity to "test" some of my one size diapers on my two week old niece! She slept most of the time I was there, so we only used two diapers- RumpARooz os, and newest babykicks. Both are pockets, of course. I used just the newborn part of the 6r soaker for the RAR. It looked bulky, but when I held her, I found that it squished in(in a good way- the insert did not slide around or anything like that. No leaking.Next I tried the babykicks with the insert folded in half (I think I could have left it unfolded) and pushed all the way to the back since I was using it for a girl. (it's a front loader,hehe). Also, since there are side snaps there was not bulkiness in the front. This brings me to another point with the babykicks- since boys pee more in the front, this diaper might not be good for a newborn boy. The wings don't absorb a lot, and have the PUL(obviously), and they would create a barrier between the skin and the absorbant part of the diaper in the front. Just a thought.Neither diaper left leg gaps ( one problem I had with my skinny-legged boy and his Fuzzi Bunz). I hope this is helpful.

I haven't CD'd a newborn yet either. I've started both of my kiddos a little earlier and gone straight to BumGenius OS pockets, then some others. I will say that I LOVE my organic cotton Flips, but they are definitely way bulkier than the stay-dry versions. But to me, the organic factor is worth it, and they are still less bulky than my Bummis prefolds.

One thing to think about with a little boy is that he will pee straight up the front of the diaper, so you might find you like "bulkier" diapers like Flips or prefolds b/c you can fold them over in front to make a little pee-proof pocket.

Good luck and happy shopping! (I am having some serious diaper shopping envy this morning!)

SoftBums just came out with a pocket diaper called the Omni! The SoftBums Echo is known for being a super trim one-size. I haven't seen the Omni on a newborn yet, but it seems like the logical choice, given all of your preferences. 🙂

We have pretty much been a pocket or AI2 family from the start. I tried fitteds with a cover for short amount of time but quickly sold them because my hubby didn't like them and they tended to leak. With Baby #2 I wanted to start with cloth instead of using disposables until she fitted into cloth (like I did with #1). I bought 2 or 3 Kissaluvs and a Thirsties Duo Wrap to try. They worked so well and I loved them so much I quickly added 6 more Kissaluvs and 2 more covers. (I wish I had more!) I haven't had any issues with leaking and they fit so well. Even the hubby likes them. Our daughter is quite long and skinny so she is still wearing them at 3 months. I expected her to outgrow them quickly and we would move her into our Bum Genius & Fuzzi Bunz but so far the Kissaluv 0's still fit her best. Oh, and I find these less bulky for her to wear then I do my pockets.

I had quite a few in my newborn stash and found the Bum Genius AIO XS to my favorite. Trim. Great fit. No leaks. Daddy friendly. I wish they had been my whole stash!

The kissaluvs were pretty bulky but they did a great job as well. I had a pretty heavy wetter though and I felt like his skin was always damp and I didn't like that.

I tried the Lil Joeys. Hated them. Poor fit with the snaps. And every single time he wore them, he leaked out the legs. Not just a little leak either. I was convinced they weren't absorbing and needed to be stripped. When I tested them out this wasn't the case, I just couldn't get them snug enough around his skinny newborn legs. I was so glad I only had two because I retired them pretty early on. They are also VERY small. Even on my average size baby at 7 pounds 10 ounces they wouldn't have fit more than a few weeks. Not worth it in my opinion for the price.

Next time around I'm going to ditch the fitteds, get more BG XS and try the Thirties Duo Diaper Size one. I LOVED the fit of the cover with the double gusset and adjustable rise so I imagine I will love the pocket version.

Right now my third child (second in cloth) is almost two weeks old. He has been wearing Rumparooz One Size diapers and they fit like a dream. He was a big baby – 9 lbs – and he's not even wearing them on the smallest snap setting around the waist, and with the rise snapped all the way down, there is plenty of room for his cord stump. I'm confident they would fit a smaller baby just as well. Of all my various OS pocket diapers that I have have in use for my toddler, the Rumparooz size down to the smallest, by far.

Plus, I have to mention, on the occasions when he's been in a disposable, it has leaked all over his clothes, blankets, our bed, etc. After waking up to poop in my bed in the wee hours, I refuse to have him in anything but a Rumparooz during the night.

I would suggest AppleCheeks size 1. The envelope cover can be stuffed and used as a pocket (which unstuffs itself in the wash, bonus!), or it can be used as a cover if you choose. The size 1 fits from about 7 pounds, so depending how big your son is, could be used right away. Plus, it has elastic at the top on the front of the diaper as well, not just the back, so it's great for little boys!

I used Kissa luvs and covers with my second child and had OS Fuzzi Bunz and Bum Genius. she weighed 9 lbs 4 oz, but was skinny and long.

The OS didn't fit till about 2 months. The Kissas fit excellent right away, but the covers, Thirsties duos and swaddlebees in small didn't fit till about 2 months as well. When they all did fit they weren't bulky at all. The Kissas weren't bulky at all even when she was new. Our Kissas never got unsoft and fit her great till the 4 month mark when she got to long for the rise. The only thing I didn't like about the Kissas was when she wet they were super wet all over and not much fun to change.I think you are on the right track though! Good luck.

We cloth diapered my daughter from the time she came home from the hospital. She was 8 pounds at birth, however. Our favorite diapers were fitteds and AIOs for nighttime changes and we used prefolds during the day. We also used bumGenius 3.0 one-size pockets. But if bulk is an issue for you, you might want to hold off on those. They were bulky, but I didn't mind. If our budget had been larger, I would have gone with all fitteds, AIOs and pockets. Thirsties Fab Fitted, and bumGenius Bamboo (which are no longer available) were our favorite fitted diapers. The Thirsties Fab Fitted diapers paired with a Thirsties XS cover was a practically leak proof combination, even against newborn poo. I was told about how great the Kissaluvs size 0 were, so I took the plunge and bought one. We really didn't like them. My husband actually used the word hate. After just a few washes the diaper was rough and stiff, even when dried in the dryer. The snaps were also difficult. We couldn't get a good fit on our daughter, resulting in leaks. This was the beginning of realizing that we are not a snap family. Even at 16 months, we still don't like snaps, in any brand. The other fitted diapers were not as good as Thirsties but also much cheaper. The GMD Infant Fitted Diapers from Green Mountain Diapers were only $7.95 each (though you have to pay for shipping). At first, they seemed to leak poo more often then the other fitted diapers, but as my daughter got a little bigger, they began to fit better, and they fit her until almost 14 pounds! They weren't my favorite, but for the price, they ended up being worth it.We also loved the bumGenius AIO. The XS fit our daughter so perfectly. They were so easy that virtually anyone could use them, and they were trim, yet still quite absorbent. No bulk problem with these. If money were no object, I would have diapered exclusively with bumGenius AIOs and One-Size pockets. But, diapering a little boy maybe different.

I started CDing my baby at around 2 weeks because I just could wait any longer to use cloth! I really liked greensproutbaby newborn diapers–these are very trim. I used them with a green pea fleece cover or Imse Vimse diaper cover (love this cover!). I also really liked my GMD Infant Fitteds and they are unbeatable for the cost. I also had some AIO esbaby diapers that worked well, also.

I friend of mine did prefolds and covers with her son and she was very happy with that (and she is kinda picky). I didn't start using CD with my second until she was about 2.5 months and I used blueberry minis with her and LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVED (cant say it enough)them. The fit her perfectly and I didn't stop using them until she was like 6 months. Granted I do have tiny babies, but still I loved them! When we are ready for the next one I want to do prefolds and cover and the lil' joeys and BB mini's. Good luck and have fun with newborn fluff!!

I've used FuzziBunz size x-small with my newborns before, along with kissaluvs size 0. I preferred the FB. The size small was just too big for my newborns, so this time I invested in more xsmalls! Since mine tend to have skinny legs and put on weight slowly, I feel I will get enough use out of the xsmalls. Friends of mine, though, have babies that would outgrow them in a week or two!

This time (in one month) I'll be trying Lil' Joeys and thirsties fitteds too. Oh, and I bought some Bum Genius AIO's in xsmall and small. I think they are very cute, but after doing my first-time wash to get them ready, I'm a bit worried about how long it takes them to dry!

I bought the g diapers newborn bundle with the tiny g's! My son as five weeks early and five lbs four ounces and the fit him until he was around eight pounds! I used the flusable inserts but u could use a small prefold or the small g cloth with them! I lived them!!!

I started CDing when my DD was two days old and I LOVE the Kissaluvs size 0 for newborn babies! I found that they were quite trim compared to other newborn diapers I had. Also they were quite absorbent. But I found that this really didn't matter because I was changing my DD so often (they poo a lot…lol). They were the top in holding in anything that my DD wanted to throw at it (or in it). I never had a blowout in the entire time I used them. My DD was a very slender baby , long and skinny (25% for weight and 75% for height) and she grew out of them at around 3 months.I actually did a blog post on my experience CDing a newborn if you want to check it out it may give you more ideas (or questions lol)http://didyouknow-cecette.blogspot.com/2010/04/itty-bitty-bottoms-and-fluff-on-them.html

I didn't start using pockets (FB OS) until DS was over 6 months old. We started at 2 weeks with infant size prefolds and Thirsties Duo Wraps and Bummis SuperBrite covers. In hindsight I wish I had gone with newborn size pf's as the infant size was quite bulky on him, but we were trying to save money. BUT, despite the bulk they worked extremely well. I did not have a single leak or blowout while using that system. I preferred the Duos on a newborn- they really are very trim and did not add any bulk. I'd imagine if you had a trim fitted or even a correctly sized prefold, it would be quite trim. And it's sooo easy to change a newborn since they don't wiggle!

I tryed to cd my itsy Izzy and LOVED my bumGenuis Deluxe AIOs, but I only had a very few cloth dipes at the time, I think it just all boils down to what you like and what your baby likes and fits into.

I'm so glad this was posted. I didn't start CD'ing my 3rd till she was five months old, so we've mostly used BG one size. I love them, but I'm not sure how they'll work for a newborn when we decide to have another. THis helped me see different options. I'm really considering prefolds and covers for the first month or so because they are fairly inexpensive.

I have a three month old and I borrowed some Thristies Duo Wraps in Small I didn't borrow them until she was a month but those were great…I know you said you didn't like pre-folds but I found those to be the least bulk using newborn pre-folds. Even a package of Gerber ones from good old Walmart worked great for the first two months. I did use pockets at night because it was just easier. After she great out of those I went back to mostly pockets it's been a mix of BG, Flips, Fuzzi Bunz One Sized and Grovia.

I don't like bulk, either, and Fuzzi Bunz are my staple diaper for older babies. However, I loved the newborn Kissaluvs. I did not find another diaper that fit quite as well as they did, and they really weren't that bulky compared to the bigger-sized Kissaluvs.

My biggest regret was listening to everyone who said the tiny newborn diapers would be a waste of money and would only last a few weeks at most. Wrong! My tiny 6 pounder fit into NB and Small sizes for almost 4 months!

I would look into some bumGenius AIO in XS. They are an AIO but they have a pocket so you can boost the absorbancy, especially for nights.

Smartipants has also come out with a newborn diaper, I'm not completely sure if its a pocket or AIO.

Lastly, what about Thirsties Duo Diapers size 1? You can use as a sleeve pocket diaper or a cover and they get super tiny and will last longer then the typical newborn diaper. I really like these, especially now that you can choose snaps or aplix.

I really like what you have so far- I can't wait to have another baby so I can try the lil'joeys!!! Good luck mama, and just enjoy your newborn. Don't spend too much time agonizing over cloth once the baby is here 🙂

Well my experience so far has been on a bigger newborn. My son was born three weeks ago and he was 10 lbs 2.5 oz and 21 1/2 inches at birth. That said, I had bought prefolds, flats, and had some Snugglebottom fitteds already as my stash for this little man. This is not my favorite choice for him. I may have felt differently had I bought newborn sized prefolds, but I knew I have big babies, so I questioned how long they would last on him. My small Diaper Rite prefolds fit him well, but they are a bit bulky. My biggest issue with the prefolds and flats (which btw are super trim but seriously lack in the absorbency department) are that they seem so stiff to me. Once I get the cover on around them it feels like a hard stiff bum, not a soft fluffy one. So around one week old I tried my BG 4.0 on him. Wow, I LOVED IT!!! So incredibly soft and squishy. Even as a big 10 lb baby, his legs are skinny and there were no gaps. I had him in it for about 2-3 hours and not a single leak. Since then I've tried my KaWaii one size and it fits him just as nicely. So for me (in my opinion) pockets are awesome for newborns too. But like I said, I make big babies, so I'm not sure how they would work on one that's 7 lbs or so. Unfortunately I don't have enough pockets yet to diaper him and my one year old full-time. I'm slowly working on this though.

prefolds and thirsties covers for my newborn and bumgenius aio sized xtra small were just perfect for my 7lb newborn (started cloth at beginning of week 1 since we used disposables for icky merconium.) major poop issues the first 3 weeks, so i didn't enjoy cloth. she pooped constantly – went through 6 (!) disposables in 5 minutes once – all saturated.

I haven't cd=ed a newborn yet, but I am leaning towards prefolds and covers mostly if we have a third. But, that is mainly because I am a penny-pincher, adn the sticker shock for the pocket and AIO newborn diapers is high. Also, I like prefolds and covers except during the wiggly crawler/toddler stage, so I think they will be fine for a tiny baby.

Thank you to everyone for all of the help and suggestions! Not only have you given me a wealth of info…you've given me a WONDERFUL excuse to shop! What harm can there be in trying one of each before settling on a good system, right? Minnie and Alycia-thank you for telling me about the new Soft Bums and Smartipants options! Andrea-I have already ordered some mini-deluxe Blueberries based on your recommendation and my pure love for their one-size diapers! And to all who showed the love for prefolds-you won me over. I'm going to have to give them another shot. They make total sense for the constant changes a newborn requires. I just have to search for the softest and trimmest (thank you Secret Mommy for the tip on 6ply vs 8ply). Did most of you just lay them in the covers or did you use Snappis? Otherwise I'm feeling very confident about the FB x-smalls since I so love my FBs for my daughter (thanks, DoulaCindy, for reinforcing my hunch about them), I'm going to try the BG AIO x-smalls (BG is definitely one of my favorite brands)and I will make my first Applecheeks purchase as well. And thanks to those of you that pointed out something that never occured to me…the different (eh-hem) diapering necessities of a boy! Honestly, didn't even think about that and now I'm a little nervous about the unknown!!! Honestly, though, I'm so excited about this new adventure and can't wait to share the good, the bad and the messy experiences with all of you. Thanks again.

I haven't cloth diapered a newborn before, but I hear the bumGenius AIO in X-Small is an even more trim than the Lil' Joeys on a newborn. So I'm thinking about trying that one out, and they are about $12.95 I think, which doesn't seem too bad too me.

I started cloth diapering my second child when he was 3 days old. He was 7 lbs, 13 oz at birth, and he is already over 10 pounds now at 4 weeks. I have been using Rumparooz Lil Joeys, x-small Fuzzi Bunz, and size 1 Apple Cheeks. I love the fit of the Lil Joeys, but by 2 weeks of age my son could soak through them in about an hour. He can occasionally go 2 or 2 1/2 hours without soaking through, but it's hit and miss. They just don't have quite enough absorbancy for him. The x-small Fuzzi Bunz seem to hold a bit more liquid with just the one insert that comes with the diaper, but I can't get as good of a fit as with the Lil Joeys. The x-small Fuzzi Bunz only have one row of snaps instead of two like the larger sizes have, and I am unable to get the diaper tight enough around my son's legs without it being too tight around his waste. (His legs aren't super skinny, but he does have a big tummy.) If Fuzzi Bunz would add a second row of snaps I think these would be my favorite newborn diaper. The Apple Cheeks size 1 diapers fit very well, but they are definitely a little more on the bulky side.

but next time i think i'll get a diaper service for the first month. sooooo difficult to wash when you can't move after labor! or sleep! after about a month the one-size diapers should fit. don't hate me!!

Sounds like you already have your mind made up…. BUT IMO – prefolds are THE BEST for newborns…… do you remember how often they poop…and the consistency!?!?! I do not find pockets hold a candle to a well folded PF. ALthough I know there are some pockets out there with Gussets…. maybe try those (Rumparooz & Thirsties come to mind)

Katie L.- I say, do whatever it takes! I certainly don't think a service for the first little bit is a no-no. Whatever gets us through those first harried weeks of survival is all good! Even the evil sposie! And thank you to The Carrolls for reminding me about the plethora of poopage! I just flashed back to the daily blow-outs in sposies with my daughter pre-cloth and it furthered my conviction to go with all cloth. You and many others have inspired me to give prefolds their fair shake. I just placed an order for some newborn prefolds and will get some newborn and/or small sized covers. I'm taking the plunge! Do you just lay them in or should I use my snappis? Thanks again to everyone. This has been soooo helpful.

You might look into trying the happy heinys mini. I got one and it looks and feel amazing! (I don't have a newborn to try it on yet) It fits 5-15 lbs, has 3 rise settings, and comes with an xsmall and small insert. It looks super trim! I'll certainly be buying more.

Thanks for this post! I started CDing my son at 4 months, so I'm trying to figure out what all to use for the new one on the way. I love the lil Joeys, but they're a little pricey to build a whole stash of!

We are a total pocket diaper family. That being said, our newest addition is two weeks old today and we've been using Kissaluvs size 0 with proraps and LOVE them! They fit perfect, aren't too bulky, and have held everything in without a problem. I actually bought more after I found out how well they worked! Once she's big enough, we'll transition back to pockets, but for now, we're loving our KL0 fitteds!

I cd'd my 5th son since birth I loved it and am so glad I did it. I used Bum Genius XS and they were GREAT! super trim fitting and absorbant. I could leave them on him for three hours then feed and change. I also used preemie sized prefolds with preemie sized imse vimse … good luck I loved cd'ing my babies from birth! Even brought them to the hospital!

I just saw on Rump-A-Roos FB page that they are going to be releasing little joeys covers. (I think…they definitely are releasing rump-a-roo covers and it looked like little joey covers, too). I had been planning on prefolds & proraps plus a few "splurge" little joeys all-in-ones for my newborn, but now I will have to consider some of the little joey covers.

I started CD-ing my 7.7lb newborn on Day 3. We'd a helper in the first month, so used flats and Bummis covers. Very good fit. Velcros are great to get a good fit with newborns, and easy to use by any family member free to help out.

Breastfed baby poos very frequently (my boy up to 11 times!) From second month, we relied on 10 Small Drybees pockets, 3 dozen flats and 4 covers.

Hey! Your preferences on diapering a newborn are exactly the same as mine. I am expecting my third baby in a month, but this will be the first newborn I cloth diaper. I love my bum genius on my older toddler, but don't like the bulk idea either for a newborn. Now that youve had your newborn, what was your favorite way to diaper? Did you end up liking the fitted Kissaluvs? I'm curious! Thanks!